Door operating mechanism for dump cars



Aug. 25, 1931. w. L. BURNER 1,320,525

- noon OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DUMP CARS Filed April 28. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l v {J '3 5 1: 2 6 2% 3 ??-r 'F lli ll 13 19 g .4m W1- g? WM mw% am/ J Aug. 25, 1931. w. L. BURNER 1,820,525

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DUMP CARS Filed April 28, 1928 2' Sheets-Sheet 2- I 21m (if Orngyg Patented Aug. 25 1931 j i w'ILLiAm L. nnnnnnforlentil-naps; onto?*iissieiionfftgo."iwnsrnmt wrinnnnn SCRAPER company, apnoea, rumors. A1;ccnro3arron or rumors.

noon ornn'li rme mno'rmnisr Application filed April This invention relateseto door operating mechanisms for dump-cars While the particular devijce which-l shall describe hereinafter in'connection with the ""5 drawings is a mechanism' adapted for use with dump carsof the type inwhich a car body or bed is arranged to betilted to'either side to discharge the loadorcontents to either I I side of the body or bed or toeither'side of the 10 tracks on which the car runs Wherethe car is moved on tracks, it is to'be understood that the present invention-is not'limited to such useibut may be employed in, alls'imilar work, i for example; in connectiongwith a-one way 715 dumping-body or bed", I i

In various dump carsandaparticularlygin dump cars of thetype referred to aboveoa wide door opening is desirable. Particularly in side dump carbodies whereit-is usually-de- "2'0 sirable for the door ropeningtoEeXtend over substantially the entire length ofthe side of the car the doors become relatively-large and heavy. With'the door operating mechanisms heretofore provided there has beenbaytendf- '2 ency for the weight of the door when thedoor I is in open position to right the, Qcarlbodytor 7 bed or return same to its horizontal non dumping position With the prior mechanisms of sort this "3"0 righting tendency has been applied with rela tively great force orefiort or through" relatively: great leveragesand withobjectionable results particularly in connection witlrwide I opening? doors or with doors, ongates that "35 are relatively heavy. iHeretofore,-.., .for. ex-

ample, it has irequentlybecome necessary to reduce the sizeoi; the,doorQopening in order to -reduce the size-andi'lweight of; the door sufficiently 'thatthis bodyrighting tend:

Y 4 ency will not become-objectionable, and; i'tfis' an object of my present invention toprovide a generally improved door operating mechanismthatmany be employed withflrelatively wide-opening doors and with doors that are 4 .relatively'large and vheavy without any objectionable tendency of the door to "right the bed or body whenin'raised position and'without reducingjthe width or weightof the. door.

This permits a wideior large [door opening 53 aswell-asrelativelyilarge and heavydoors maybefemployed within the scope of the pres- 'ent inventionf.-'-- I the: load from the right hand side and with bed orbody is indicatedjiatv 12 and may; be; of

on DUMP CARS ment. jln'thepresentembodimentof theiin- 60, v

ventionthis door leveragereduction is used to reduce the'body righting tendencyreferred ltolbut it is to. understood that; other manners of reducing or overcomin g this tendency ;i; T-he foregoingand other features and fad-- i vantages of the: present invention will appear ti'omfihe following detailed" description and the claims; takenwith an inspection of the 70 V i accompanying dr awings,-in' which p "F g; 1 1s an end v ew of a'dumplng car em- "bodying thepresent invention showing'the carjbed iniits'normal horizontal non-dumping positlon. 1i 7 a F g. 12 safragmentary detail view, par- .tiallygin section v and taken. on the-line '22 li igzj"3" is an'iiendview's'imilar to Fig/1 with, the car bed or body'tilted to discharge 1 the; door vor open position. f v

7 It will be understood ;thatin the two-way dumping car" illustrated the door operating. devices provided at the two sides of the car a re'alike and .it is believed, therefore, that a] description of the doorjoperating mechate. on the righthand side in -.anism-1at one'fside willjsuflice forboth sides.

,I jhaveg'already pointed outthat' the present 1 0 invention may be applied to a 'one-way-dumping bodylin which caselonlysuch of the present mechanism will be used as'is necessary toiefl'ect the" olesired'joperations. "Referringto the drawings, 10 indicates the 5 nnderbody ortruckfportion of the car, which,

lexc'eptlas otherwise stated", they be of any suitable or approved construction; The car the usualor any suitable type. -*The car'bed or body 12 is pivoted centrally between its opposite sides at 13 on the underbody ortruck portion of the car. The central longitudinal pivot 13 permits the car body to be tilted selectively toward either side to dump or discharge the load to either side of th tracks 14. i

The opposite sides of the body 12 are provided with discharge openings which extend longitudinally and preferably from end to end of the opposite sides of the body. These openings are normally closed by the side doors or gates 15 which extend longitudinally body from tilting toward one side or the other, either side of the body being adapted 'tobe released or unlocked to permit the body to tilt toward that side and discharge the load therefrom.

The door operating mechanism for one door 15 is designated in its entirety at 16. it being understood that the mechanism 16 may be and is preferably duplicated at the oppositeends of the car or each door 15.

Where the -mechanism 16 is duplicated at opposite ends of the car the duplicate mechanisms are identical with the mechanism 16 shown. It is, therefore, believed'that the description of the operating mechanism 16 atone end of the door 15 will suflice for both ends as well as for any other combination ofa plurality of said mechanisms 16 or for a single mechanismfllo used alone.

The door operating mechanism 16 comprises a strut 18 pivoted at 19 to the up r marginal edge of the door 15 and preferably adjacent one end thereof. The opposite end of the strut 18 normally underliesan abut ment 20 suitably secured tothebody 12 to track over the upper edge of the strut 18 in the tilting movement of the body. The abutmentmeans 20 is preferably in the form of a roller journaled upon a pin 21 anchored at its inner end in the adjacent end wall 22 of the body, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer end of thepin 21 may be additionally supported in bracket means 23 fastened to the wall 22 of the body 12.

For the purpose of holding the door or gate 15 at the dumping side of the body up when the body is tilted or dumpedthere is a bar 25 pivoted at its upper end at 26 to the strut 18. The bar 25 extendsdown along the end of the body preferably through a keeper 27 which may be in the form of a metal strap secured at its opposite ends to the end of the body and spaced from the end of the body between its opposite ends to re oeive the bar 25 for swinging movement therebetween. The lower end of the bar 25 V is pivoted at 28 to a laterally extending link 29 which is preferably pivoted at the center of oscillation of the body 12 as upon the pivot 13. The lower end of the link 29 is preferably bowed or turned out at 30 to lie substantially horizontally in the normal horizontal position of the body and the link 29 is limited against swinging downward from the )OSltlOIl shown in Fig. 1 and at the right in *ig. 2 by engagement of said outwardly turned or generally horizontal portion 30 with a suitable shoulder or abutment 32 on the underbody or truck portion of the car. The laterally extending link- 29 may because of its pivotal connection at the center of oscillation of the body 12 be connected to the underbody or to the dumping body-or bed of the car. For maintaining the door-or gate 15 properly positioned relative the strut '18 so that it will be properly closed when the body 12 is returned to its normal horizontal position a brace 3.5 is secured at one end at 36 to the lower margin of the door or gate 15, and at its opposite end thisbraceis pivoted, for example, at the pivotal connection 26 between thebar 25 and the strut 18. The strut 18 may, of course, be suitably reinforced or strengthened along the pivotal connection 26 of the bar 25'and link 35therewith.

The bar 25 for holding the door or gate 15 up when the body 12 is tilted has linked con nection with the body 12 as by means of a link 40 pivoted at one end to the body 12, as for example, upon the pin 21 and pivoted at its opposite end at 4.2 to the bar 25. Any of the connected bars, struts or links of the door operating mechanism may be offset to bring the pivotally connected portions together and at the same time permit the various links to overlap as shown without interfering with the operation of this mechanism. The inner end of the strut 18 upon which the roller 20 tracks or travels is preferably curved or bowed upwardlv at 43 for the pur pose of imparting a relatively high lift to the door or gate as the roller 20 travels over the upper edge of this upwardly turned end -43 toward the free end of the link. The end of the strut '18 is preferably provided with a flat surface 45 to receive the roller 20 as it leaves the upwardly curved portion 43, this flat surface 15 permitting the strut 18 to move longitudinally outwardly with the continued tilting of the body after the dooror gate reaches substantially its full lift and without any substantial or material further lift of the door or gate. Any of the links may be'of single or double formation, and the upwardly curved end 43 of the strut :18 is shown as operating between the brack'et23 and an outer keeper plate 48 securedto the 4 3," the resu lting action of the swinging su bra'cket23 and spaced therefromr With the arrangement shown the curved end of the strut '1'8-is held against lateral displacement frombeneatli the rol'ler 2O,but it isto'be understoodthatthe'strutimay be held inplac'e 'inother manners as for example between the endof t'he'b'ody and the link 40, which link is also showiras disposed between the bracket.

23 andthe'keeper plate 48.

' Assuming that the body 12 is inthe position'shown in Fig; 1, theoperationof the door operating mechanism in-tiltingthe body 123 to the position shown in'Fign3 1S asafollows:

Asthe body 12 begins its tilting movement the-weight of the door 15 holds the: upper edge fof ;the upwardly, curved end 43 of the strut 18 firmly in tangential engagement with the roller 20,- andthe roller 20 moving with the body 12 in a clockwise-direction (with-reference to the operating mechanism for the gate on the righthand side as Viewed in Figsll and about the pivot 13travels along the upper curved edge of the strut 18 toward the flat surface 45. Atthe same time the tilting movement of the body 12 acts'through its pivotal connection 21 with 't he 'link 10'to'; swing the bar 25 in a clockwise direction 'about ther pivot 28 to its ultimate orfinal position to'the right, as shown in Fig.

port; and operating mechanism moving t e door upwardly and'foutwardly away from the door opening to open or uncover same. The

strut 18. produces a slow initial lift upon the door for about the first-- fifteen'degrees followed by a faster lift to the point'of engageine'ntof-the flat end 15 of the strut with the roller '20, although this may vary with the shape and contour of the strut; This slow initial lift is due to the relatively slight ini-' tial component of movement of the roller or abutment means 20 laterally with respect to the strut 18, which relatively slight initial lateral component is accompanied by a relativelygreater component of movement of the roller 20 strut) L Y :"QAs the. tilting continues, however,tthe

lateinl component of displacement of the roller or abutment 20- with referenceto the strut 18 becomes greater and the longitudinal component-of displacement becomes less with a result that as the" lateral component of displacement of the roller 20 with reference to the strut becomes greater the door or gate islii'ted faster or with greater speeduntil the roller 20 reaches the fiat surface whereupon the door is not lifted further to any material or substantial extent but the continued tilting movement of the body moves the strut substantially longitudinally with an accompanying outward movement of the door or gate and an accompanying lengthening of the inner lever arm of the strut 18, that is,

lengthwise or longitudinally of the,

the inner portion ofthe strut 18 fromothe" pivot'26 to the roller 20 This reduces the r r i ,leverage of the door 15 and thereby the body righting/tendency of the door., The result is a Wide openingdoor andzan effective applia cation of the door operating forces, and at the same time any objectionable'ztendencyzof theweight of the door, to right or-returnthe body to its horizontal position is reduced.

Themovementalong the flat surface 451e,

duces the leverage of the door so that it does imposed upontheroller 20 byztheweight of the door necessarily has an inward component of movement and this isopposed by the not tend, so much to right the bedor' body; and atthesame time any upward leverage weight of the door uponthe bar 25 forholding the door open." The resultof this is that the leverage of any righting-tendencyof the door is reducedand at-the same time the weight of the door sets up an opposition to any Lrighting. tendency, "which reduces the same andeliminates any objectionable tendency of this sort. 'Itis believed that the re turn 'movementof the body and the closing action of the door' is ther'description. 1 j a o I do not intend,-of course, tobe limited to the precise details shown'ordescribed; I'claim: 1, In combination, abutment on said body, a door'forsaidbody,

apparent without fur a dumping body, an

and swinging means'foroperating said door,

said means including a strut connected with the door andtangentially engaging said abutment. .v a a 2.-In combination, a a dumping body, an

abutment on said body, a door for said body,

"and swinging means for operating said door, said means includ ng, a strut connected with I the door and having an upwardly curved its portion tangentially engagingsaid abutment.

3. In combination, a dumping body, an

abutment on said body, a door for said body, ;1

swinging means for operating said door, said means including" a strut connectedwith the door and having an upwardly curved por tion tangentially engaging" said abutment,

and a substantially flat surface on said strut beyond said upwardly" curved portion and adapted for tangentially engaging said abutment askthe abutment moves from engage- I ment with said curved portion.

4.111 combination, a dumping swinging means for operating said door, said means including astrut connected with the I body, an g abutmenton said body, a door for'said body,

are r ing means for operating said door, said means including a strut connected with'the door and tangentially engaging said abutment, a lateral link pivotedto the underbody, a supporting arm'connected between said link and said strut, and a link connected between. said supporting arm andthejbody; I

din-combination, ya :lumping body, an abutment on said-body, a. door for said body, swingingmeans for operating-said door, aid means including a strutconnected with-the door and tangentially engaging said abutment, a lateral link pivoted at" the center of tilting movement of the body, a supporting arm; connected between said link and said strut, a link, connected between said supporting arm and the body, and adink connected between the strut and the door below the connection of said strut therewith. v 1

.7. In combination, a dumping body, a door for said body, swinging means foroper'ating said door, said neans comprising a strut pivotallyeonnected withsaid door, and having a curved portion, a lateral link pivs oted. at the center of-tilting movement of the body, a supporting bar pivoted to said link and to said strut, alink pivotedto said supporting barand tosaid body, and a roller journaled on the pivotal connection between the body and said last link and tangentially engaging the curvedend of said strut.

8. In combination, adumpingbody, a door for said body, swinging means for operating said door, said means comprising a. strut pivotally connected with said door-,aud having a curved portion, a lateral link pivoted at the centerof tilting movement of the body, a supporting bar pivoted to said link and to said strut, a link pivoted to said supporting bar and to saidbody, and a roller journaled on the pivotal connectionbetween the, body and said last link and tangentially engaging the curved end of said strut, said strut having a substantially flat portion beyond saidnpwardly curved portion and adapted for, tangentially engaging said roller as the roller leaves said curved portion. I I

9. In combination, adumping body, a door for saidbody, swinging means for operating said door, said means comprising astrut pivotally connoctedwith said door, and having a curved portion, a lateral link pivoted at the center of tilting movement oi the body, a snpporting bar pivoted to said link and to said strut, 'a link pivoted to said sup mrting bar and to said body, a roller journa-led on the pivotal connectionbctween the body and said last link and. tangentially engaging the "curved end of said strut, said strut havinga substantially, flat portion beyond said upwardly'curved portion and adapted for tangentially engaging said roller .as the roller leaves said curved portion, and a link connected between the strut and the door below the connection or said strut therewith.

tendency my name this :10. Incombination, a dumping body, a. door for said body, swinging means for operating said door, said swinging operating n'icai-isyincluding alateral link pivoted at the cente'r'of tilting movement of the body, said; lazteral'link being bowed within its length to form an'out -turned lower end, a roller onsaid body, a strut connected with the door and tangentially engaging said roller-and: a supporting arm connected betweensa-id strut an dthe out-turned lower end of said lateral link.

1 1L In combination,a dumping body having a door opening, an abutment on said body, adoor. for said opening, swinging means for operating said door, and means connected with the door and: tangentially engaging said abutment for reducing the leverage of'the door toward open position.

12-111 combination, a body pivoted to tilt to dumping. position, an abutment on said body, a doorfor said body, and swinging means for operating said door, said means inclndingmc'ans connected with the door and tangentially engaging said abutment for re dncing the tendency of the door to right said body to normal position about said pivot.

Incombination, a dumping body, a door for said body, an abutment on said body, and Li-swinging strut connected with'the door and tan entially engaging said abutment and slidable outwardly "to reduce the, leverage of the door in the opening movement thereof,

14. In combination, a dumping body havinga door opening, a door for said opening, swinging means for operating said door, said means-including leverage for imposing the weight of the tilted side of the body against any body righting tendency of the door, said leverage being variable to increase the leverage of the-opposition to said body righting "the opening movement of the doors 1 15.,In combination, a dumping body, an abutment onsaid body, a door for said body,

andswinging. means for operating said door,

said n'lea'ns including means connected with said door and tangentially engaging said abutment for causing the door to move with an accelerated motion during the latter part of its opening movement.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe 19th day of April, 1928-.v

lVILLIAM L. BURNER. 

